Hundreds of gay rights activists celebrated the move outside the Statehouse in the capital, Providence, by holding a victory party.
The Catholic Church in the state opposed the bill, and during debates many legislators said they had to weigh their religious beliefs against their constituents' desires.
Polls have shown a rapid rise in support for same-sex marriage in the US, and President Barack Obama and most US Senate Democrats now back same-sex marriage
As of May 2013,10 states have legalized same-sex marriage, representing 16.1% of the U.S. population -
- Connecticut in Nov 2008
- Iowa in April 2009
- Maine in Nov 2012
- Maryland in Nov 2012
- Massachusetts in May 2004
- New Hampshire in Jan 2010
- New York in July 2011
- Rhode Island in May 2013
- Vermont in Sep 2009and
- Washington in March 2010
Maine made history in the November 2012 election when it became the first state to pass marriage equality on the ballot
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